SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR, LOCAL NEWS AND COMMUNITY INFO

Big changes to pet travel rules between the UK and Spain come into force this AprilFrom April 22, UK residents will no longer be able to rely on EU-issued passports when travelling to Europe with their pets If you regularly travel between the UK and Spain with your dog, cat or ferret, there’s an important update coming into force..

Get paid to recycle: Spain is finally introducing its long-awaited deposit return schemeThe new deposit and return scheme for drinks cans and plastic bottles will be rolled out across Spain in November Spain is finally catching up with much of Europe by introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers, and not before time.. 24/04/2026

Ryanair is bringing in earlier check-in times across Spain and beyondThe Irish budget airline has confirmed changes to its check-in closing times at all airports in its network Ryanair has announced a shake-up to its check-in process that means some passengers will need to arrive at the airport a little earlier than.. 24/04/2026

Spain unveils €7 billion housing plan with grants for renovations, rentals and first-time buyersThe plan will run until 2030 with funding shared between the central government and regional authorities throughout Spain The Spanish government approved a new State Housing Plan this Tuesday April 21, setting out how up to €7 billion.. 24/04/2026

Murcia's Carlos Alcaraz named World Sportsman of the Year at the 2026 Laureus AwardsThe tennis prodigy from El Palmar was awarded for the 2025 season, which saw him return to world number one and win both Roland Garros and the US Open Carlos Alcaraz was named World Sportsman of the Year on Monday night, April 20, at the 2026 Laureus.. 24/04/2026

Los Alcázares proposes common front for the removal of mud and seaweed from the Mar MenorMayor Mario Pérez Cervera leads an initiative to unite the four Town Halls affected in combating the duckweed in the lagoon The accumulation of algae is a problem which affects water quality in many areas of the Mar Menor, and at the latest meeting.. 24/04/2026

Alexa+ arrives in Spain with a smarter, more natural way to help at homeAmazon’s upgraded assistant is rolling out in Early Access, with more personal features and a monthly fee after launch Alexa+ is now arriving in Spain, and Amazon says the new version is designed to sound more natural, understand context better.. 24/04/2026

What is Bimi, the Asian 'super veg' taking over Murcia's fields?The Region now supplies most of Europe's demand thanks to its climate and farming expertise Bimi is a hybrid vegetable that combines broccoli and Chinese kale. In recent years, it has moved from being a relatively unknown crop to something.. 24/04/2026

Murcia lags behind most of Spain on cutting carbon emissionsThe Region of Murcia has cut emissions by around 12% since 2019, compared to a national average of 17% The Region of Murcia has made progress in cutting its greenhouse gas emissions in recent years, but it's doing so more slowly than the majority.. 24/04/2026

DGT Spain launches free helpline for road accident victims, and it's available in EnglishThe 018 number offers psychological, legal and medical support to motorists across Spain and operates in 50 languages Anyone affected by a road accident in Spain now has a free dedicated helpline to turn to, and it's available in English. From.. 24/04/2026

El Corte Inglés freezes the price of 300 grocery items in stores across SpainThe 90-day price freeze covers everything from fresh fish and meat to olive oil and nappies With the cost of the weekly shop continuing to rise across Spain, El Corte Inglés has announced it's freezing the prices of 300 basic food products.. 24/04/2026

Murcia to spend €1 million buying land to safeguard the Mar MenorThe Region of Murcia government is focusing on plots of land that can act as natural filters around the lagoon The regional government of Murcia has announced plans to spend €1 million this year buying up land around the Mar Menor in the latest.. 23/04/2026

Petrol station strike called off in Spain after workers and bosses reach a dealGood news for Spain's May bank holiday drivers following a last-minute agreement on pay and conditions Drivers planning to hit the open road on the May bank holiday weekend can breathe a little easier as the petrol station strikes planned for.. 23/04/2026

Temperatures in freefall as rain returns: Murcia weekend weather forecast April 23-26We’re in for a sea change with the Murcia weather this weekend, thanks to the arrival of a DANA storm that is affecting all of Spain It will be noticeably cooler in the Region of Murcia from this Friday and Saturday as a powerful DANA storm.. 23/04/2026

Spain's endangered 'sad duck' makes a comeback after €6.37m wetland rescue projectWetland restoration across Murcia, Alicante and Andalucia has helped nearly quadruple breeding numbers since 2021 Often described as Spain’s “sad-looking” duck thanks to the dark markings around its eyes, the marbled teal is starting.. 22/04/2026

Where to find electric car charging points in Spain using this live mapA simple online map shows thousands of charging locations across Spain and helps plan longer journeys If you drive an electric car in Spain, knowing where to charge it can feel like a bit of a guessing game. And no motorist wants to feel lost when.. 22/04/2026

La Manga businesses demand urgent shake-up of beach rules and tighter jet ski controlsWith summer just around the corner, businesses want to see an end to the '50-metre rule' and a much firmer hand with jet skis in the Mar Menor Business owners in La Manga are calling for an urgent rethink of beach rules, warning that.. 22/04/2026

Spain air travel row grows as airlines deny fuel crisis while others warn of shortagesConflicting messages leave travellers unsure whether to book their flights to Spain now or wait as fuel costs surge Airlines and aviation experts are sending very mixed signals right now, leaving holidaymakers in Spain unsure whether they should be.. 22/04/2026

Queues, confusion and pressure as Spain's migrant regularisation opens nationwideApplicants face long waits and system issues while councils warn of strain on local services  Spain’s new migrant regularisation process has begun with scenes of long queues, technical problems and growing pressure on local services, as thousands.. 21/04/2026

Spain sees early surge in measles cases as experts warn of spring spread riskOver 100 infections already recorded this year, with vaccination key to preventing further outbreaks Spain has reported 101 measles cases in the first two months of 2026, making it the second most affected country in the EU so far this year. &.. 21/04/2026